April 29, according to foreign media reports, with EU regulators on the iPhone and iPad disclose user location information data privacy involved in-depth investigation, Apple probably will face in the EU than in the more rigorous review of the United States.
London, specializing in Internet and data protection, business law firm SNR Denton Nick counsel - Graham (Nick Graham) said that shortly before Google Street View service because of its wireless Internet connection to collect user data and rigorous review by the EU, the investigation for Apple technology companies will once again set off for the controversy of invasion of privacy disputes.
Graham said: "The U.S. regulatory law and EU regulatory law are very different, so in the United States does not seem very serious problem, in Europe seems to have to much more serious. Google collects user through the WiFi network of personal data EU regulators is to be found. U.S. regulatory law is relatively narrow, and the EU will have much broader scope of supervision. "
Last week, Germany, France and Italy's regulator said, they are on the Apple iPhone and iPad product for tracking, storing and sharing of user location information in breach of EU privacy protection requirements for investigation. Irish National Data Protection Commission spokesman Deer Mead - Hali Nan is also an e-mail Thursday, said the regulator is also investigating the "User complaints against Apple products."
This week, members of Congress to include Apple and Google technology companies, including six letters sent a question to allow these companies on how to position data stored in the phone system and how to transfer this information to explain.
California Sebastopol of the U.S. publisher of O 'Reilly Media O'Reilly Radar recently reported that its Web site, the researchers found that Apple's mobile device will record latitude and longitude coordinates of the user to visit some parts of the world's time. Apple said Wednesday that the company did not follow the users of geographic information, and plans to reduce the iPhone, the data storage space.
Apple denies the user location information to track
Apple said in a statement: "We do not track the iPhone user's location information. We've never done this kind of thing, and they will not do it." According to Apple's introduction, iPhone current location near the phone and WiFi hot spots towers to save the information the user needs help when the iPhone to determine its position.
Data protection has restricted U.S. technology companies to expand business in Europe. Google for its Street View service throughout the EU member states were tightly wrapped regulators. But last October, Google promised to improve the privacy protection, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has canceled the world's largest search company in this survey.
Large companies into the regulatory focus
Graham said: "Sometimes, European regulators will be closely watched as big companies like Google, Apple of course, are such large companies. Europeans would think, given its market position, Apple should step up efforts to protect user privacy . " Last month, for violating French privacy policy, Google is a fine of 10 million euros (about U.S. $ 147,000). Dutch regulators also announced the April 19 deadline to Google three months, asking them to inform the user about how the Street View car is collecting personal data by WiFi.
Market research firm Gartner analyst Karsten - Casper, said Apple has "seen the Google Street View of the lesson, so be very careful this time. Apple and Google, the more mature, larger, The more commercially successful, they will be subjected to more stringent regulatory efforts. "
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding - Reading spokesman Matthew - Newman said that any type of tracking technology must first be "appropriate" and needs to be "the user's consent." Imposed by the EU later this year on a 16-year-old data protection policies for large-scale changes in the process, some officials proposed to committed to addressing this issue.
UK Information Commission Office has said that although the iPhone and iPad has taken note of the problems caused by products, but the department is temporarily not in contact with Apple.
Data anonymously deposit dispute
Google said, Android phones in all geographic data sharing needs to have user involvement. Google spokesman Oliver • Rickman (Ollie Rickman), wrote in an email: "We will inform the user, while location information collection, sharing and use of monitoring equipment to allow them to feel Android superior mobile experience. "
Graham said that even if a U.S. company said the data is anonymous, but according to the scope of the definition of personal data, it is still possible to violate EU law. U.S. market research firm Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Jeff - Feidakaluo said: "The most important issue is the need to prove that the data is sent anonymously. All the progress in this regard would be very interested."
British and Irish regulators said that Sony warned that 77 million customers after the personal data may be stolen, they will be Sony's PlayStation Network Platform hacking incident.
National Data Protection Commission of Ireland said it has asked Sony to submit a report on the incident. UK Information Commission's Office on Wednesday said the agency will conduct a thorough investigation before deciding whether to take further action.
Chairman of the Austrian national data protection Eva - Shaohelada (Eva Souhrada) also wrote in an e-mail Thursday: "We are also very likely to make contact with Sony, and request clarification on the matter."
